Rebirth of the Larton Grange & Bebington railway

[flyingsignalman]

I took advantage of the (poor) weather to do a bit more to a couple of stalled projects instead of more pointing of the patio.
First was my GVT van which needed brake gear to finish it.
Bachman wheels were fitted in place of the Hartland ones, as a trial I painted the wheel discs "Humbrol track colour" from an old tin I had. Using Cambrian parts and some plasticard the brake gear was made. The roof was also fitted in place.

The last pic shows how simple I kept the brake gear but it looks OK when on the rails.
The lettering stands for Fender Valley Tramway; I was tempted to call it the South Heswall & Irby Tramway or some such amusing collection of initials but I resisted (just).
The other project was a shelter based on the one that used to exist at Sylfaen on the WLLR before the passenger service ceased in 1931.
I say "based" as I put windows in each end whereas the prototype only had a window at the Llanfair end. I've also put planking on the inside but a photo seems to suggest that the frame of the shelter only had cladding on the outside.
I'd stopped to think about making the windows last autumn and didn't get started again until today.
The present state is shown below; it's just had a first coat of green on the lower interior walls, the upper part will be cream. Externally it will be plain green with a few adverts.

 

[mike]

the wheels are defitaly better for the paint job, and the atention to detail is amazing, love the bench seat

 

[flyingsignalman]

Just a little update on me shelter........
Being on lates forever (well it seems like it) means I only get a couple of hours in the morning to do anything.
Today a little more painting and cutting up little bits of plasticard. The roof will be formed from some of Steve Warrington's corrugated metal sheets and these were cut to size as well.
Some pics.

The parts laid out

Trial fit, the name of the halt "Pump Lane" may be visible on the awning.

 

[flyingsignalman]

Today we were looking after Nos 1 & 2 grandsons, so, with the weather looking promising I cleaned the track, cut back the plants and hooked up the juice and we ran a few trains.

Josh watches a train passing

Sammy watches the woo woo passing by

Given that the prototype that this shelter is based upon (Sylfaen, W&LLR) most probably only took about a week from start to completion, the fact I've only spent about 18 months (off & on) building it isn't too bad

All stuck together with a couple of pieces of plasticard to represent roof joists (to support the corrugated iron sheets). The roof goes on shortly...............

 

[yb281]

Lovely photos Keith. No point in rushing the Sylfaen shelter.

 

[flyingsignalman]

My problem, Mel, is that I stop to think.............................................


and then


I can't get going again:thinking:

 

[yb281]

My problem, Mel, is that I stop to think.............................................


and then


I can't get going again:thinking:

I find thinking over-rated mate.

 

[flyingsignalman]

Yesterday as the weather was somewhat inclement (he says, trying to keep it polite) I fitted the roof to my shelter.
I painted the underside of the corrugated sheets cream and fitted them in the morning

In the evening, before I went to work I added the fascia and small canopy

I've only got to trim the fascia to size at the rear, fit a plinth and paint it now
(still don't like roofs!)

 

[flyingsignalman]

This morning the weather was fine, so while I was working on the patio, I had a train running (as you do)

 

[JRinTawa]

I like the wee station.

 

[mike]

devils in the details and its full of it:love:

 

[flyingsignalman]

I took advantage of the nice weather to test the new arrivals

The fact that Josh and Sammy were there was purely coincidental but it did mean that no work was done on the patio - tomorrow maybe............

 

[stockers]

Those coaches look great on your line. I did have a look at them myself and then, later, noticed they had gone. Seemed a good deal to me - enjoy.

 

[mbiff]

garden looks superb

 

[garrymartin]

Some lovely pictures there, the bridge over the stream looks particularly effective

 

[flyingsignalman]

A bit of gardening this afternoon let me give my battery diesel a chance to have a run

 

[jameshilton]

Lovely

 

[mike]

nice settings keith

 

[flyingsignalman]

Well its been a while since I posted in here.
With the improving (?) weather I've been tempted back out into the garden.
The railway has been left untouched (despite my best laid plans) since last September due to the poor weather.
It being the Easter school holiday we had both grand kids yesterday so on wednesday I cut back the greenery and cleaned the rails.
A couple of pics from Wednesday.

The battery diesel was used before the track was cleaned; her last run for a little while as the battery holder has split so I'll have to nip to the shops to get another.

 

[flyingsignalman]

Thursday saw a couple of trains run but it was too cold for the grand kids to stay out too long; still I enjoyed it!

Later, after they had gone (and I'd recovered) I went out to try out a plan I originally had in mind to do last September which will extend the length of the loop and make it more visible from the house.